JPS62288709A - Turning joint - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a swivel joint that is most suitable for, but not limited to, windshield wipers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of pivot joints are used within windshield wipers, particularly between the various yoke members and/or between the levers of the windshield wiper blades.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Windshield wipers have many problems because the metal parts must be rotated frequently. These swivel joints are prone to noise and are subject to wear and corrosion. For example, attempts have been made to solve the above problems by installing a plastic member between the metal parts of the swivel joint, but although it may work well, it is not completely satisfactory from a manufacturing standpoint. There is no way that I can be satisfied. One of the problems with previous proposals is that the rivet must be retained within the joint, making the manufacturing process of the swivel joint laborious.

Even if it is not necessary to use rivets or the like, the strut forming process is sometimes associated with stress and rusting problems.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and improved swivel joint that may solve or alleviate some or all of the problems described above, while also being able to be manufactured and assembled in a relatively inexpensive manner. be.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems According to one embodiment of the present invention, a swivel joint that provides a pivotable connection means between a first and a second member is configured to connect the first member to be pivoted. The joint body has a substantially groove-shaped cross section that can be inserted into the hole of A portion of the first member is positioned to hold the joint body to the first member, and includes a pair of stops, at least 61 of the stops hanging from the bottom of the groove to prevent the first member from being pivoted. an elastic body capable of passing through one or more holes in the second member, the second member being at least partially located within the joint body, and the elastic stopper being able to pass through the hole or holes in the second member. and a second position in which it is not possible to pass through, but there is play between the fitting body and the second member in the insertion direction, allowing the second member to pivot relative to the fitting body. It is characterized by being elastically displaced.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the swivel joint includes a first member having at least one end with a grooved cross-section, and is pivotable with respect to the one end of the first member, the first member having a grooved cross-section. at least 1 in
and a joint body having a generally groove-shaped cross section that can be inserted into a hole in the first member, the joint body having at least one fixing surface and one a portion of the first member is located between the fixed surface and the movable surface, holds the joint body on the first member, and includes a pair of stop portions; at least 61 ends of the elastic body depending from the bottom of the groove and capable of passing through one or more holes in the second member, the second member being at least partially located within the groove of the joint body; A play is generated between the joint body and the second member in the insertion direction, and the second position is in the first position where the elastic stopper can pass through the hole in the second member, and the second position in which the elastic stopper cannot pass through the hole in the second member in the insertion direction. It is characterized in that it is elastically displaced between second positions that allow it to pivot relative to the main body.

By providing a lateral edge extending from the bottom of the groove of the joint body and engaging the second member, a knife-like fulcrum can be provided.

The hole in the first member can be provided at the bottom of the groove. The outer side wall can be formed with a recess that cooperates with a projection provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the coupling member.

The side walls of the joint member elastically flex and move toward and away from each other.

The recess in the side wall of the first member is formed by a "notch",
A medium extension is provided from the free longitudinal edge of the side wall to provide an open side recess.

The second member has a groove-shaped cross-section at least in the connection region, and a hole into which the stopper is inserted is formed at the bottom of the groove.

The first member comprises, for example, a main yoke member of a windshield wiper blade, and the second member comprises a second yoke member,
Or it can be equipped with a lever. This swivel joint is
In addition, the second yoke member and the third yoke member or the lever (
(if present) can also be used in between.

(P) Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a joint body 1 forming this swivel joint and having a generally channel-shaped cross-section having side walls 2, 3 and a bottom 4. As shown in FIGS. The bottom part 4 has both side walls 2.3
A narrow width flange 5 is provided on the outer lower side of the body 1 with an active surface 6 extending outwardly from the body. The bottom part 4 is also provided with a pair of upright resilient stop members 7 with stops 8 pointing in mutually opposite directions. The stop part 8 is the stop member 7
It has an inclined surface 9 extending to the end thereof and facing outward. A projecting portion 10 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the groove is provided between both stop members 7, and for the purpose described below,
Forms the knife part.

The inner surface of the side walls 2.3 is smooth and the free edge of its outer surface is provided with a rectangular projection 12 with an upper surface 14. Since the hand body is made of plastic material,
During assembly, the side walls 2.3 and the stop member 7 can be elastically bent and moved toward and away from each other.

As is clear from FIG. 5, the end 2 of the main yoke member 20
The intermediate portions 31 of the first and second yoke members 30 are specially shaped to cooperate with the joint body 1. For this purpose, the side walls 22 of the ends of the main yoke member of generally channel-shaped cross section are extended parallel to each other. (I! The height of the I wall 22 is reduced at this point, and the side wall 22 is provided with a rectangular cutout 24 to provide an open O1 hole complementary to the protrusion 12.

A hole 25 is formed at the bottom of the groove with a size that allows the both side walls 2 and 3 of the joint body 1 to fit therein.

A notch 26 is provided on the inner edge of the side wall of the main yoke member 20, and the flange 5 of the joint body 1 is seated so that the outer surface of the bottom 4 of the groove-shaped portion of the joint body 1 and the outer surface of the main yoke member 20 are at the same height. Let it be.

The intermediate portion 31 of the second yoke member, which also has a groove-shaped cross section, is
While maintaining its current shape, two holes 35 are formed in the groove bottom 33 at approximately the same spacing as the stop members 7 of the joint body 1, so that both stop members 7 can be inserted during assembly. do.

Next, a method of assembling this swivel joint will be explained.

Both side walls 2 and 3 of the joint body 1 are bent and brought into contact with each other,
The joint body 1 is pushed into the main yoke member 20 through its hole 25, and the flange 5 of the joint body is seated in the notch 26 in the side wall of the main yoke member 20. At this point, cutout 2
4 is aligned with the protrusion 12, and this protrusion 12 is connected to the joint body 1.
Due to the elasticity of both side walls 2.3, it bends outward,
Fits into the notch 24.

In this way, the coupling body 1 is fixed and immovable within the main yoke member 20 by holding a portion of the side wall of the main yoke member 20 between its working surface 6 and upper surface 14.

Next, the second yoke member 30 is operated to align its hole 35 with the stop member 7 of the joint body 1. Since the stop portion 8 is provided with an inclined surface 9, the second yoke member 30 can be inserted into the joint body 1 by simply lifting it, and during the insertion operation, the stop portions 8 are pressed against each other. so that it passes through the hole 35. Once the stopper 8 passes through the hole 35, the stopper 8 elastically returns to the outside, fixing the joint body 1 and the second yoke member 30 so that they do not move. The knife portion 10 engages the surface of the second yoke member 30 between the holes 35 and provides a fulcrum. Even if there is some play between the second yoke member 30 and the joint body 1 due to the pressure acting between the arm (not shown) carrying the blade and the blade rubber (not shown), the knife portion 10 - relates to the surface of the block member 30.

In the embodiments described above, the swivel joint does not need to be disassembled once assembled, although there are some applications where such disassembly is desirable. When disassembling the above-mentioned swivel joint, follow the steps below.

By pressing both stop portions 8 of the joint body together, or by pressing one stop member 7 against the edge of its hole 35 and operating both yoke members 20 and 30, the stop member 7 is deflected. ,
They are moved toward and away from each other with respect to the other stop member. Stopping member 7
is held in this position, and the other stop member is pressed to approach it. This allows both yoke members to be operated and the other stopper to be pulled out. Once one stop member is pulled out, the other stop member can also be easily pulled out.

Thus, both yoke members 20, 30 are separated, and the joint body 1
can be pulled out from the main yoke member 20. This is done by squeezing both sides 2 and 3 of the joint body and releasing the protrusion 12 from the notch 24. Thereby, the joint body 1 can be pushed out from the hole 25 of the main yoke member 20.

It will be appreciated that many variations can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the two holes 35 of the second yoke member 30, a single hole with a large diameter may be used.

In this case, the knife part 10 extends over the entire width of the groove in the coupling body 1 and acts on the edge of the new large-diameter single hole. Alternatively, the knife portion 10 may be omitted entirely and the play between the joint body 1 and the second yoke member 30 may be used to perform the pivoting motion.

Although the second yoke member has been described as having a groove-shaped cross-sectional shape, it is not necessary to have this groove-shaped cross-sectional shape if the second yoke member is of a form that can form an appropriate hole 35.

Only one of the stops 8 need be elastic, provided that the elastic stop has sufficient elasticity to properly align the stop 8 and the hole 35 for assembly purposes. For reasons of appearance, a notch 26 is provided at the end H of the hole 25.
However, it is also possible to omit the temple notch 26 and allow the bottom 4 of the joint body 1 to protrude upward from the surface of the main yoke member 20.

A plastic end cap can be provided as a cover for the metal end of the main yoke member.

The bore 25 in the main yoke member may be open ended, ie, extend to the end of the yoke member.

Additionally, although the present invention has been described with respect to a pivot joint between the main yoke member and the second yoke member of a windshield wiper blade, the present invention is equally applicable to any joint between the yoke member and the lever. be. The invention should not be considered to be limited solely to windshield wiper technology.

The invention is also applicable to other technical fields where swivel joints with similar features are required.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a perspective view of a swivel joint forming one embodiment of the swivel joint according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint body of FIG. 1 as viewed from below; FIG. A perspective view of a swivel joint assembled using the joint body shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the swivel joint assembled using the joint bodies shown in Figures 1 and 2.
5 is an exploded perspective view of the swivel joint shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 1... Joint body 2.3... Side wall 4... Bottom 5... Flange 6... Working surface
7... Stopping member 8... Stopping part 9...
・Slanted surface 10...Protrusion 12...Protrusion 1
4... Upper surface 20... Main yoke member 21
... End portion 22 ... Side wall 24 ... Notch portion 25 ... Hole 26 ... Notch portion
30... Second yoke member 31... Intermediate portion
33... Groove bottom 35... Hole

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A joint body having a substantially groove-shaped cross section that can be inserted into a hole of a first member to be rotated, the joint body having at least one fixed surface and one elastically movable surface. a portion of the first member is located between the fixed surface and the movable surface, the joint body is held on the first member, and a pair of stop portions are provided;
At least one of the stop portions is an elastic body that hangs down from the groove bottom and can pass through one or more holes in the second member, and the second member is at least partially within the groove of the joint body. a first position in which the elastic stopper can pass through the hole in the second member, and a second position in which the elastic stopper cannot pass through the hole in the second member, but there is play between the joint body and the second member in the insertion direction. A pivot joint providing pivotable connection means between first and second members, characterized in that the member is resiliently displaceable between a second position allowing the member to pivot relative to the joint body. 2. a first member having at least one end having a grooved cross-section; a second member capable of pivoting relative to the one end of the first member and seated at least partially in the grooved cross-section of the first member; 1st
a joint body having a substantially groove-shaped cross section that can be inserted into a hole of a member, the joint body comprising at least one fixed surface and one elastically movable surface, and between the fixed surface and the movable surface. A portion of the first member is positioned to hold the joint body to the first member, and includes a pair of stop portions, with at least one of the stop portions hanging from the bottom of the groove for pivoting. Second
a resilient body adapted to pass through one or more holes in the member, the second member being at least partially positionable within a groove in the fitting body;
a first position in which it is possible to pass through the hole in the member; and a second position in which it is not possible to pass through, but in which there is play between the fitting body and the second member in the direction of insertion, allowing the second member to pivot relative to the fitting body. A swivel joint characterized by elastic displacement between positions. 3. A swivel joint as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it has an edge projecting from the bottom of the groove of the joint body and engaged with the second member, thus providing a knife-edge fulcrum. 4. The swivel joint according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the hole of the first member is provided at the bottom of the groove. 5. Claims characterized in that a groove side wall of the first member is provided with a recess that cooperates with a protrusion provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the joint member, and the side wall of the joint body is elastically bent to move toward and away from each other. The swivel joint described in any one of paragraphs 2 to 4. 6. A swivel joint according to claim 5, characterized in that the side wall recess of the first member is formed by a notch extending inwardly from the free longitudinal edge of the side wall. 7. The second member has a groove-shaped cross section at least in the joint portion,
The swivel joint according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that a hole into which the stopper is inserted is formed at the bottom of the groove of the second member. 8. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second yoke members include a yoke member and/or a lever of a windshield wiper blade harness. Swivel joint described in paragraph 1. 9. A swivel joint as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first member comprises a main yoke member of a windshield wiper blade harness and the second member comprises a second yoke member or lever.